Carbon modified vanadium doped TiO2 was successfully prepared with the intention of enhancing the visible light photocatalytic performance by expanding the absorption in the visible light region and improving the quantum efficiency of the photocatalytic reaction. The physicochemical properties of the catalysts were characterized by XRD, Raman, TEM, XPS, UV-vis diffuse reﬂectance spectra. The result indicated that some vanadium ions substituted for Ti4+ in the lattice of TiO2, while all the carbon was modified on the surface of catalysts in the form of stable graphite-like carbonaceous species. Compared with vanadium doped TiO2 sample and carbon modified TiO2 sample, the 0.32C-0.5%V-TiO2 photocatalyst exhibited excellent visible light activity and the synergistic effects of vanadium and carbon was responsible for improving the photocatalytic activity.